Olympian Loudy Wiggins put it best when she said, “sportsmanship to me is when people help each other out even if they are competing against each other.”
The qualities of good sportsmanship—respect, encouragement, positivity, honesty and fair play—are being instilled in athletes at Coal City Middle School, and it’s being recognized by the Illinois Elementary School Association [IESA] and its member schools.
On March 5, middle school Athletic Director Rodney Monbrum received a letter from the association announcing the school was selected as the February IESA Sportsmanship School of the Month. This honor is in recognition of the school’s outstanding commitment to promoting respect, integrity, and fair play.”
Out of approximately 500 member schools, IESA honors one school a month across seven months of the academic year. The honorees are selected from the Good Sports Reports submitted by the IESA Officials Advisory Committee.
“We had three really positive emails come in regarding our wrestling, volleyball and our boys basketball programs in the month of January,” Principal Cam Stone said. One of those reports was shared on IESA social media, and it focused on the school’s wrestling team led by coach Joey Rivera.
The report came following the team’s participation in the Eureka Duals and the focus was on its match with the host school. “The Eureka Middle School wrestling team faced intense competition against one of the strongest teams in the state. While Eureka secured just one victory, what stood out most was the exceptional sportsmanship displayed by Coal City’s athletes and coaches,” the post stated.
At that meet, there were several notable displays of sportsmanship from how the players interacted with their opponents to their conduct on the mat, and the report stated this was evident from the start of the match as the Coalers showed kindness, respect and encouragement. “Their coaches and athletes took time to compliment Eureka’s team on their effort and work ethic, leaving a lasting positive impression,” the report said, and it went on to state, “Coal City’s humility in victory and respect for their opponents reflect the values instilled within their program. Their example serves as a reminder of what sportsmanship should look like in competition.”
Principal Stone shared that the school has also received similar reports about the outstanding sportsmanship displayed by its volleyball and basketball programs—both of which had outstanding seasons on the court.
“These messages and particularly this recognition from IESA is something to celebrate, and to be one of just seven schools recognized in an academic year is just an outstanding honor for our school, our students and our staff,” the principal said.
In its announcement letter to the school, the IESA stated sportsmanship is at the heart of its mission. “We believe that respect for opponents, teamwork, and ethical conduct are just as valuable as athletic performance.”
The principal credits the athletic director for placing an emphasis on character traits and sportsmanship in all areas of student lives, from the classroom to the court.
“This is a tremendous honor for our school. I am extremely proud of our students, coaches, athletic director Monbrum and the athletic program as a whole,” said Principal Stone.
The principal shared the news with students and staff on Thursday as the school was gathered to celebrate the success of the school’s wrestling program and sending nine off to the IESA State Wrestling Finals, as well as preparing for regional championship games in volleyball.
“Your dedication to fostering a positive athletic environment reflects the highest standards of sportsmanship and serves as an inspiration to students, coaches, and fans alike,” said IESA Executive Director Nicole Schaefbauer. “We sincerely appreciate your commitment to these values and the example you set for others…thank you for making sportsmanship a priority at Coal City Middle School,” Schaefbauer added.